A "Pinterest Minute"

Don't even try and pretend you don't know what I'm talking about here, ladies. You think to yourself-  "hey, I'll just get on Pinterest reaaaaaal fast...for just a minute...and then I'll do [insert productive activity here]."

No. Just no. It doesn't happen. Unless I can somehow program my computer to turn off and be unable to be revived after a "minute" is up, it will probably never happen that I will just hop on Pinterest for a "minute". 

I wish I did other things like I do Pinterest - "hey, I'll just do laundry for a "minute". WHOA! How'd all the laundry get done in just a "minute"??!!"

"I think I'll bake something for a "minute"....what?!?! My time's up?! I baked us out of house and home and it was only a "minute"!!!"

I say this jokingly, but there is truth behind it. 

I have recently begun to use Pinterest as a sort of reward (call it like it is...BRIBE) for tasks that I don't particularly enjoy doing. 

Example: Do XYZ. When that is COMPLETED, you get five minutes on Pinterest. 

The problem is that I still have trouble ONLY browsing for 5 minutes! In my head, I feel like I'm talking to (myself) a 4 year old! "Okay, Mackenzee...three more scrolls and then you will click the X and go back to being productive."

Pray for me as I try to enforce my own rules with myself and become a more productive wife/mother/human being...

Never Say Never

No, I'm not referring to a song by The Biebs...although, I will unashamedly admit my adoration for that particular tune. ;-)

You know the things that you say before you're pregnant/have a baby? The ones judging other mothers' parenting choices? The ones that are start off with, "I will never ever ever ever do _________" Yeah, that kind.

Never say never.

You will eat your words...daily. And it will be such a humbling experience. 

I'm not talking about judging others for things that may harm their children's safety. If you see somebody feed their baby a bottle of orange Fanta, while screaming curse words, then driving away with the baby in their lap in the Walmart parking lot? BY ALL MEANS, JUDGE AWAY. (and then pray for them!)

I'm talking about these:

I will never ever ever go to the store at 9pm wearing yoga pants.

I will never ever ever let my baby sleep in bed with me. all night.

I will never ever ever pacify my child with food to make them stop crying.

Even as I write this blog post, I'm thinking of examples and banishing them from this post with the thought - "But, I really would never do that! "

I've done all of the above. And she's only been here for 8 1/2 months. Granted, the yoga pants were post-partum, and I was tired of maternity pants!

Anyway, I write this as an encouragement. It's okay to do (some of) the things you vowed you'd never do.

(But for the record, my child will never ever ever play in the play-place in the Mall.)

(No, really. Never ever.)

White After Labor Day

There are some things in life that I have a really hard time with. Wearing white after Labor Day and wearing brown and black together are just two of the "biggies" that I've been struggling with recently.

These are not euphemisms. This is for real, you guys. These are real problems that I'm really facing. We're getting down to the nitty gritty now. 

In all seriousness, I was raised that you wore your white shoes for the first time on Palm Sunday - and put them away before Labor Day. It doesn't matter how hot it was after Labor Day - you wear your black or brown dress shoes, because the time for white dress shoes has passed. 

Well, recently, I read in a magazine somewhere that that's no longer the case. So this year, I branched out and wore my white dress shoes whenever it was too warm for dressy boots. Which ended up being up until about 2 weeks ago. It was very freeing, and the 90's fashion police didn't even slay me when I left the house.

So that brings me to my newest fashion hurdle: black and brown together. It's killing me. I am trying my hardest to get over it. Yesterday, I wore a black cami with a brown shirt. And a grey sweater. And brown boots. But I felt like a sinner all day long because of it. I ended up tucking the black cami into my jeans so that it had less of a chance of showing. I THINK I HAVE A PROBLEM.

So today I'm taking a break from black and brown, and branching out to black and navy blue...something I conquered long, long ago....

Bathtime Beauty

We have a waterbug on our hands. She wasn't so sure about the bath when she was itty bitty, but ever since we took her to the pool at about 4 months old, she has been hooked! Her favorite, though, is the "big girl" bathtub at Patrick's parents house. 

She wiggles and stands up to the bathtub (with our supervision...) while it fills up with water and bubbles - I just love her cute little nakey baby butt as she stands there impatiently. No pictures of that, though - well, at least not on the blog. ;-)

Finally, the bath is ready, and we sit her down with a big rubber duck, a small rubber duck, a little metal bowl, and an orange plastic toy boat that was Patrick's when he was little. She splashes and plays and dances if you sing to her. 

She doesn't mind getting water in her eyes (unlike her mother) - she just holds her breath and blinks a few times until I wipe her face with my hands. I love how laid back she is about that! 

Also...seriously...she makes the cutest faces at her Daddy. She loves him so much.

Nursing Cover from Swanky Panky Designs - A Review

A friend of a friend recently began to make nursing covers, so my friend purchased one for me, since I was sorely in need - my first one bit the dust after only a couple of months. :-(

So here I am to give a review of my new nursing cover from April over at Swanky Panky Designs. Not only is she going to be stocking nursing covers (send her a message if you want one!) soon, but she also has the cutest camera strap covers, mixing bowls covers, and shirts for your cutie pie kiddos!

The fabric is durable, and Molly can't yank the top part open - which is a big plus, because the child is hell-bent on exposing me to the public EVERY time I nurse her! I also LOVE the fun pattern that my friend picked out for me. :-)

So whether you're looking for one for yourself, or searching for the perfect baby shower gift for a friend (OR a just-because gift....I love just because gifts), click the link above and visit April's shop for a sweet $18 nursing cover!